Newbie to CarPC - Computer power on/off question...

Hello,

First off I'd like to say sorry if this question has been asked a million times, I searched with no direct answer found.

Anyhow, I'm planning on putting a CarPc in my car.. The question is, will my computer (not sure on which to use - laptop or desktop type comp.) stay on in sleep/hibernation while my car is off? If i use a desktop type, what are my options on it not completely shutting off while my car is off? Would it be easier/better to use a laptop since it uses its own battery power? Please Help!

If the computer is in hibernate mode, it is drawing no power whatsoever.
If the computer is in standby mode, it is drawing enough power to maintain the system state in RAM. If the power is lost while in standby, the computer will do a full boot when the power switch is pressed.

For a vehicle install, desktop hardware is easier to set up, in my opinion. Most desktop hardware has the option for both standby and hibernate. Hibernate is the most commonly used option, as you get a faster startup time than a full boot, but are still drawing no power when shut off.

Laptops have other issues when configuring startup, namely getting the laptop to start automatically when the ignition goes hot.

Thanks for the quick reply.. okay here goes another question probably asked a million times.

How do I set the computer up to power up when I turn the car on, then hibernate when I turn off the car? Can you please show me the right thread to show me, and the settings on the computer? Thanks again!!!